Pearls have been getting around lately, from high fashion catwalks to it-girls’ curated ear stacks and even on the auction block, as a historical treasure of Marie Antoinette’s is slated for sale in November. Many of these pieces are aspirational, but the message is clear: the public wants to see what the pearl can do!
Ray Griffiths (ABOVE)
18K yellow gold jewelry by Ray Griffiths including multi-wrap Tahitian pearl necklace with crownwork finial on oxidized silver chain ($8,595), crownwork olive necklace on oxidized silver chain ($3,465 and $6,270), oxidized silver Emperor Soto of Syria coin set in four corner small crownwork frame necklace ($2,970), ball earrings on teardrop post with half round pave champagne diamonds (2.93 TCW) and half crownwork detail ($11,495), crownwork ring with 22K Roman coin ($3,400), large crownwork set opal ring ($9,350), double crownwork oxidized silver link bracelet with gold crownwork link and diamond set toggle ($3,575), and crownwork frame coin bracelet with diamond set toggle ($8,350). Contact kirsten@raygriffiths.com or (212) 689-7209, raygriffiths.com.
Photographer: John Tsiavis
Stylist: David Bonney
Model: Manon Crespi
Earring Evolution
The pearl earring is the little black dress of jewelry: ever-versatile, always appropriate, and endlessly appealing. They’ve graced the lobes of everyone from world leaders to leading ladies, aristocrats to actual art (just ask Vermeer). These cutting-edge pearl earrings show that this classic category still has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Baggins
18K white gold earrings with Tahitian pearls and diamonds.
$2,600
(213) 624-2277, bagginspearls.com

Jessica Arden
18K gold earrings with pearls and coral.
$1,125
jessicaardenjewelry.com

Veronica Eckert Studio
18K white gold earrings with white South Sea pearls and diamonds (0.47 TCW).
$3,800
(425) 233-9014, veronicaeckert.com

Melis Goral
14K rose gold earrings with pearl, diamonds, and turquoise.
$2,175
(201) 248-0800, melisgoral.com
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Danhov
18K rose gold and platinum earrings with diamonds and pearls (pearls not included).
$13,000
(708) 590-6777, danhov.com

Zhulia
14K white gold earrings with diamonds (0.824 TCW) and golden South Sea pearls.
$7,000
(760) 889-8016, zhulia.com

Nanna Schou
18K yellow gold earrings with multicolored Keshi pearls.
$3,900
+0045 -20118349, nannaschou.dk

Honora
Sterling silver hoop earrings with white freshwater pearls and black diamonds (0.246 TCW).
$440
(212) 886-6251, honora.com

Assael
18K rose gold earrings with Tahitian natural color cultured pearls and bi-color tourmaline (21.40 TCW).
$36,000
(212) 819-0060, assael.com
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Pearl Whirl
These alluring little orbs have fascinated humans for many hundreds of years. It stands to reason that we’ve gotten quite good at imagining these lustrous lovelies into different designs by now. These designs illustrate the staggering variety that can be packed into as deceptively simple a descriptor as “pearl jewelry.”

Mastoloni
18K yellow gold bangle with freshwater pearls.
$2,029
(800) 347-3275, mastoloni.com

Sutra
18K rose gold necklace with pearls (129 TCW) and diamonds (45.50 TCW).
$110,000
(713) 984-4987, sutrajewels.com

The Pearl Source
14K white gold necklace with pearl and diamonds.
$1,799
(866) 877-3275, thepearlsource.com

Imperial Pearl
14K yellow gold ring with freshwater seed pearls.
$565
(401) 223-4180, imperialpearl.com

Estelle Vernon Designs
Sterling silver necklace with white freshwater pearl.
$390
(240) 704-8150, estellevernon.com
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KIR
Sterling silver bracelet with black spinel and Tahitian pearls.
$835
(303) 530-1268, kircollection.com

Stellino Jewels
Sterling silver bracelet with freshwater pearls.
$480
(646) 322-8473, stellinojewels.com

Little H
14K yellow gold necklace with freshwater souffle pearl, lapis (5.22 TCW), and 22K gold.
$4,050
(424) 349-8203, littlehjewelry.com
Yoko London
18K white gold necklace with Australian South Sea and Tahitian pearls and diamonds (2.98 TCW).
$63,000
+44 20 7025 0700, yokolondon.com